Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Pope Continues Self-Marginalization

Alas, poor Pope Benedict. We knew him too well.

Benny the Rat, the former Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, known in the religion biz as God's Rottweiler when he headed the Roman Inquisition for 25 years, has a favorite hobby horse. That would be same-sex marriage, his ride of choice.

There he sits, in a tiny country-like-space, surrounded by real, RC-dominated nations that have legalized marriage equality. The doctrinal infallible Pope told assembled diplomatic corps attached to the Vatican that same-sex marriage undermines "the nature of humanity itself."

The full context about marriage was:

This is not a simple social convention, but rather the fundamental cell of every society. Consequently, policies which undermine the family threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself.

You'd think in 2012, he'd be smarter and more aware and more inclusive. However, blinded and deafened by dogma, one's faculties function badly.

As the world sees how SSM harms none, while being very pro-family and pro-marriage, the befuddled old school pronouncements are increasingly sad. The Pope calls in his darkness for discrimination promoting his views. He stops just short of lobbying for anti-marriage-equality laws with, "The family unit is fundamental for the educational process and for the development both of individuals and states; hence there is a need for policies which promote the family and aid social cohesion and dialogue."

He's certainly out of touch with history and reality. Then again, someone in his job should not be chasing trends. Yet, that position has also been for other Popes one that tried to help people instead of harming and hindering them.

There's been Popes, Popes and Popes. This one is nothing if not consistent.